Waterfall rescuers praised

May 31 2003

A woman who survived the Waterfall train crash has emerged from 11 weeks in hospital to thank the paramedics who saved her life.

Christiana Gruenbaum, of Sans Souci, was travelling in the fourth carriage of the Tangara train that derailed on January 31, killing her husband, James Ritchie, as well as the train's driver and five other passengers.

Mrs Gruenbaum, 55, said she would have died but for the expert treatment given to her by paramedics Bob Lisle and Stephen "Smokey" Dawson.

"I do not think that the general public realise what a great ambulance service and team of professional men and women we have in every state of Australia," she said.

"If it wasn't for Bob putting his hand through the small holes in the crushed roof of the train and finding my foot, and realising I had a pulse, [as well as] the expert attention that Steve 'Smokey' Dawson gave to me, I don't think that I would be here today.

"I think a 'thank you' isn't enough for the work that everyone has done."

Ms Gruenbaum, who held hands with her rescuers from her wheelchair yesterday, suffered severe head, chest and limb injuries in the crash.

Mr Dawson said the Waterfall tragedy was one of the worst and most traumatic incidents that he had ever attended in 12 years as a paramedic.

"So to come back so we can see the end result - this is very, very special for us," he said.